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Theresa May has stopped short of apologising for calling the general election which lost her party seats in the House of Commons at a speech to activists at the annual Tory conference in Manchester.

Addressing an audience of supporters and campaigners the Prime Minister said she was sorry that the result was poor and that "good" MPs lost their seats, but she failed to hold her hands up for calling the vote in the first place.

It follows reports of anger among donors and the Conservative grassroots about the result, which left Mrs May weakened and forced the party to seek a power-sharing deal with the Democratic Unionist Party in order to remain in Downing Street.